I couldn't resist creating a WQ for my 8th graders although I'm short of time. I don't know if it will work but after my 10th graders enjoyed working with Nicenet, I felf that my ultimate challenge is the 8th grade class and how I can make it work.
I didn't finish it yet because I was also looking at all we have to do this week. I admit I was dizzy at first. There is so much to learn. Where to begin?
So, I decided to skim and scan everything first and then "dive in" . The first surprise was an answer to something I thought about in bed the night before - how can I test them and evaluate it on the net?
http://pages.uoregon.edu/tep/technology/assessment/onlineassessment.html
The answer is there but it seems so overwhelming.
I also never used power point presentation either. I always looked at this tool as a rather shallow one. I guess I was mistaken, Especially when it is a part of a long term unit.
Well - I'm going to study all of it (or untill I fall asleep).
"See you soon".
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Technology related lessons and rubrics - Week 5
Since I last reflected on my 10th graders - WE DID IT!!
Instead of waiting for them to enter Nicenet, I took them to the computer room and we all went in, saw what I already prepared for them and experienced some of the links. They were excited about it and asked to continue working this way. It was also interesting to see the look of surprise on their home-room teacher when I told her what I plann to do. She had no idea language in school can be taught with computers.
I also tried to take my 8th graders and work with them. It didn't go well. I think that I need to plan it better and put some strict boundaries as to what they have to achieve in each lesson. Everything must be graded and very straitforward.
After giving it a lot of thought, I think that a Web Quest might be better suited for them. As a fairly heterogenous English student's class with a lot of behavioral problems, I believe that they need to be divided and given a chance to work in small groups. Although I didn't create one yet, I already explained to them that they will have a special project they will need to do, instead of a test. I did not go into details about what it would entail nor what it will be like but I started by explaining the method of assessment. I also told them they would be active participants in writing some of the rubrics. In addition to it all, I want to encourage them to work by telling them they were chosen as a model class to experiment this method and that we will present their work in class and show it to their parents.
Instead of waiting for them to enter Nicenet, I took them to the computer room and we all went in, saw what I already prepared for them and experienced some of the links. They were excited about it and asked to continue working this way. It was also interesting to see the look of surprise on their home-room teacher when I told her what I plann to do. She had no idea language in school can be taught with computers.
I also tried to take my 8th graders and work with them. It didn't go well. I think that I need to plan it better and put some strict boundaries as to what they have to achieve in each lesson. Everything must be graded and very straitforward.
After giving it a lot of thought, I think that a Web Quest might be better suited for them. As a fairly heterogenous English student's class with a lot of behavioral problems, I believe that they need to be divided and given a chance to work in small groups. Although I didn't create one yet, I already explained to them that they will have a special project they will need to do, instead of a test. I did not go into details about what it would entail nor what it will be like but I started by explaining the method of assessment. I also told them they would be active participants in writing some of the rubrics. In addition to it all, I want to encourage them to work by telling them they were chosen as a model class to experiment this method and that we will present their work in class and show it to their parents.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Returning from a school trip - Week 5
I have a lot to write about.
First - I would like to thank all of you that encouraged me on my previous post. I'm sorry I didn't answer till now and I want to tell you that your advices means a lot to me!!
I will address them more in my next blog this week but I would like to address the trip first, also as a reflection for myself.
As I am new to this school, I was told that this excursion is supposed to teach students to take responsability, to teach them how to cope in nature and how to cooperate and help each other. As all of our school trips it is also meant to allow them to see and know our country "by foot". A lot of them don't travel much and therefore do not know other parts of Israel and its history, apart from their own surroundings.
The hidden curriculum is to teach them values of cooperation, helping each other, be aware of each other's needs, cleaning their surroundings etc...
We went on two field trips - one each day. At night, we camped at a special campground designed for pupils to come and experiment. They had to divide into groups of three and raise a tent we provided for them. This process was not so easy for some of the kids who didn't find "roommates" . Thus, we could see the compassion of some when they agreed to add a "rejected" child to their tent.
Unfortunately there were other cases too, where you could see who are the kids who are less good natured (all part of the experience). This is were we had to come in and mediate in order to reflect to them what is happening.
Unfortunately, they were not enough pupils to take charge of the whole process so we - the teachers - ended up cooking and cleaning with only some of the students who came to do their part. At night we allowed them to party a little bit and then "put" them to bed and guarded in turns. It was the first time they heard foxes and wild dogs and where a bit anxious. Now they understood one of the reasons why it is important to clean and leave no food lying around!!!
The other teachers said that compared to last year the kids behaved a lot better. I guess they learned something.
Overwhole, I enjoyed it. Most of the kids behaved well and we - the group of teachers and field instuctors - bonded and had a lovely time working together. I came home with sore muscles and a great smile.
First - I would like to thank all of you that encouraged me on my previous post. I'm sorry I didn't answer till now and I want to tell you that your advices means a lot to me!!
I will address them more in my next blog this week but I would like to address the trip first, also as a reflection for myself.
As I am new to this school, I was told that this excursion is supposed to teach students to take responsability, to teach them how to cope in nature and how to cooperate and help each other. As all of our school trips it is also meant to allow them to see and know our country "by foot". A lot of them don't travel much and therefore do not know other parts of Israel and its history, apart from their own surroundings.
The hidden curriculum is to teach them values of cooperation, helping each other, be aware of each other's needs, cleaning their surroundings etc...
We went on two field trips - one each day. At night, we camped at a special campground designed for pupils to come and experiment. They had to divide into groups of three and raise a tent we provided for them. This process was not so easy for some of the kids who didn't find "roommates" . Thus, we could see the compassion of some when they agreed to add a "rejected" child to their tent.
Unfortunately there were other cases too, where you could see who are the kids who are less good natured (all part of the experience). This is were we had to come in and mediate in order to reflect to them what is happening.
Unfortunately, they were not enough pupils to take charge of the whole process so we - the teachers - ended up cooking and cleaning with only some of the students who came to do their part. At night we allowed them to party a little bit and then "put" them to bed and guarded in turns. It was the first time they heard foxes and wild dogs and where a bit anxious. Now they understood one of the reasons why it is important to clean and leave no food lying around!!!
The other teachers said that compared to last year the kids behaved a lot better. I guess they learned something.
Overwhole, I enjoyed it. Most of the kids behaved well and we - the group of teachers and field instuctors - bonded and had a lovely time working together. I came home with sore muscles and a great smile.
Friday, October 29, 2010
10th graders test - Week 4
They didn't. Only one of the pupils tried to enter and see what's on Nicenet.
I am not giving up. I think I should plan a lesson in which they will enter and
get familiarized with it. Hopefully, that will help.
Unfortunately, they didn't learn as well as I hoped for either.It seems I have to give them a lot more homework because they do not have enough learning habits to help themselves.
we'll see.
I am not giving up. I think I should plan a lesson in which they will enter and
get familiarized with it. Hopefully, that will help.
Unfortunately, they didn't learn as well as I hoped for either.It seems I have to give them a lot more homework because they do not have enough learning habits to help themselves.
we'll see.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Week 4 - Nicenet
Tomorrow my 10th graders have an English test. I wondered how I can give them more exercises to learn from especially since we don't have a lot of time' since I am not allowed to photocopy materials (budget cuts) and since that some of them are dysgraphic or just slow.
I decided to open a class page on nicenet that provides sites for them to learn and exercise from. It's only it its early stages but it can help them for tomorrow's test. In the future, I will plan it ahead and put it in a more organized way (which I am not), but in the meantime if you want to look at it, please go to nicenet.
The key to my class is: H304956G59.
Please bear in mind it is directed to a certain class' needs according to the test they will have to answer tomorrow.
I would very much like to hear (read :)) your comments.
Furthermore, I am very curious to see whether they will use it for they are not used to practice in that manner. I will update you on the outcome.
I decided to open a class page on nicenet that provides sites for them to learn and exercise from. It's only it its early stages but it can help them for tomorrow's test. In the future, I will plan it ahead and put it in a more organized way (which I am not), but in the meantime if you want to look at it, please go to nicenet.
The key to my class is: H304956G59.
Please bear in mind it is directed to a certain class' needs according to the test they will have to answer tomorrow.
I would very much like to hear (read :)) your comments.
Furthermore, I am very curious to see whether they will use it for they are not used to practice in that manner. I will update you on the outcome.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Week 3 - Delicious
This week was indeed delicious. I feel a bit like an infant that learns something new each day.
The only thing that I wonder about is the abundance of information and how to organize it. There is so many great stuff out there that I want to implement in my teaching. I intend to sit down on Tuesday and with the aid of Ritalin/Concerta - think about how to incorporate some of it into my lesson plans. I did not yet buid the lesson plan based on the ABCD method and I believe it would help me a lot if I start from scratch and rebuild my lessons accordingly.
As for Delicious, I must admit that I was frustrated at first. I guess I didn't save the information as I should have and it was erased. I had to understand what I did wrong so as not to repeat my mistake. It took me a few hours to figure out how I want to proceed, what I want to put in, how to save tags etc. Now it seems so easy that I don't know why it took me so long (it's time I recognize my limitations, at my age...ha ha ha). Anyway, the only question I am left with right now is how to put in the URLs of my colleagues so that we can share informaiton more openly. I will see to it this evening, after the day's work.
Have a great, sunny, smiley day,
Shalom,
Nourit
The only thing that I wonder about is the abundance of information and how to organize it. There is so many great stuff out there that I want to implement in my teaching. I intend to sit down on Tuesday and with the aid of Ritalin/Concerta - think about how to incorporate some of it into my lesson plans. I did not yet buid the lesson plan based on the ABCD method and I believe it would help me a lot if I start from scratch and rebuild my lessons accordingly.
As for Delicious, I must admit that I was frustrated at first. I guess I didn't save the information as I should have and it was erased. I had to understand what I did wrong so as not to repeat my mistake. It took me a few hours to figure out how I want to proceed, what I want to put in, how to save tags etc. Now it seems so easy that I don't know why it took me so long (it's time I recognize my limitations, at my age...ha ha ha). Anyway, the only question I am left with right now is how to put in the URLs of my colleagues so that we can share informaiton more openly. I will see to it this evening, after the day's work.
Have a great, sunny, smiley day,
Shalom,
Nourit
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Week 2 - ABCD
I woke up two hours ago thinking of the class I want to apply the ABCD method to. By the way, I am targetting this class but as I see it - this method and any other that helps organize long term objectives is a must.if I don't want to be distracted from the curriculum and final end of the year's program.
This method, however, is fairly easy to follow or at least to plan.
As I mentioned on Nicenet:; "According to the ABCD model I would like my 27 low level English students to be able to look around and describe their (or any) neighborhood. This, in order to enable them to understand, to give and to receive directions.They will learn it through reading their book, answering questions, planning a class trip somewhere and by drawing or building a model - either of their place of residence or an imaginary neighborhood. Given the learning and motivational state of the class, I will be satisfied with 75% mastery of learning material".
Dhika gave me the idea to use pictures. I think I might take pictures of places around the world and edit them so that the students can choose where to go and describe it with their new vocabulary. Another idea I got from you - my dear colleagues - is to apply it to grammar purposes.
I wondered about the learnig/teaching model I should apply.Unfortunately, based on the class's performance and behavior up untill now I am skeptical as to their ability to work in pairs or groupes. I am trying to apply some of the Mixed Focus Model in which, as Karl Rogers suggested, It is important to put an emphasis on the process rather than on static knowlege.
It is not an "instant" process. The class needs a lot of work on both knowledge and behavior. I just hope It's the right way.
Time will tell.
This method, however, is fairly easy to follow or at least to plan.
As I mentioned on Nicenet:; "According to the ABCD model I would like my 27 low level English students to be able to look around and describe their (or any) neighborhood. This, in order to enable them to understand, to give and to receive directions.They will learn it through reading their book, answering questions, planning a class trip somewhere and by drawing or building a model - either of their place of residence or an imaginary neighborhood. Given the learning and motivational state of the class, I will be satisfied with 75% mastery of learning material".
Dhika gave me the idea to use pictures. I think I might take pictures of places around the world and edit them so that the students can choose where to go and describe it with their new vocabulary. Another idea I got from you - my dear colleagues - is to apply it to grammar purposes.
I wondered about the learnig/teaching model I should apply.Unfortunately, based on the class's performance and behavior up untill now I am skeptical as to their ability to work in pairs or groupes. I am trying to apply some of the Mixed Focus Model in which, as Karl Rogers suggested, It is important to put an emphasis on the process rather than on static knowlege.
It is not an "instant" process. The class needs a lot of work on both knowledge and behavior. I just hope It's the right way.
Time will tell.
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